Citizenship Requirements
How requirements to become a United States citizen have changed throughout America's history.
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1950’s
·1950: The International Security Act: No one can immigrate to America who is communist or could possibly, “endanger the welfare or safety of the United States.”
·1952: The Immigration and Naturalization Act makes the quota system stricter, setting a limit for immigrants from each country. Immigrants from Asian countries were granted entrance in the United States.
·1953: The Refugee Relief Act saves over 200,000 people living in Communist Countries located in Eastern Europe and grants them visas.
1960’s
·1962: Refugees from Hong Kong are permitted to enter the United States.
·1963: Congress is urged to eliminate the quota system by President Kennedy.
·1965: The Immigration and Nationality Act (Sometimes called the Hart- Cellar Act) is signed by President Johnson, officially abolishing the quota system.
·1966: The Cuban Adjustment Act provided permanent residence for Cubans who arrived in the U.S. after January 1st, 1959.
1970’s
·1974: Canadians and Mexicans are allowed access into the United States to preform daily or seasonal jobs.
·1977: More than 5,000 Soviet Jewish Immigrants immigrate here with permission from The Justice Department.
·1979: The INS enforces legal ban allowing “homosexual aliens” into the U.S.
1980's
- 1984: The Supreme Court decreases chances of deportation for immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least 7 years.
1990’s
·1990: On September 10th, the main building of Ellis Island reopens as an immigration museum. It went through a $165 million restoration, which was the largest of its kind at that time.
-1990: President George Bush signs the Immigration Act of 1990, which allows more immigrants to stay in the country who have specific skills.
·1993: Anti- immigration feelings are still occurring, according to a New York Times/ CBS poll stating that about 70% of the Americans surveyed want a reduction in immigration.
·1996: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act is signed by President Clinton, which sets new actions against illegal immigration and supports an increase in border patrol and the INS.
·1997: Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Central America are granted permission to stay in the U.S.
·1997: U.S. Commission on Immigrant Reform supports a drop in legal immigration.
·1999: The United States Supreme Court states that foreigners are not qualified for refugee status if they had committed a “serious nonpolitical crime” in their home country.
2000’s
·2001: The Terrorist attack of September 11th causes tighter security measures on refugees.
·2006: Rallies and Protests are held all over the United States in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to have a permanent status.
·2008: Reverse immigration occurs for the first time ever, with Americans fleeing to Canada and Asia in search of jobs.
·2008: The recession causes Mexicans to send money to family and friends who are out of work in America.
·2009: The United States becomes stricter on illegal immigrants, deporting about 392,862 and almost as many who were ordered to leave, but have no place to go.
As of 2002, The Department of Homeland Security was made from combining 22 U.S. government agencies, including the INS.
(Coan)